After going to pick up groceries, we passed a sign that read, “Martha’s.”
Hmm. That name is very similar. I’ve heard it many times before.
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You are busy with preparations. Nothing has been done or cleaned. Or even begun.
Your visitor comes and you welcome Him.
Your sister decides to stop helping and suddenly vanishes from you.
You glance over your shoulder and there she is.
Sitting at His feet. Listening to His teaching.
And here you are, distracted with serving.
You get uncomfortable and uneasy, and your irritated meter rises up to here!
You say to yourself:
“Um excuse me? Why do I have to do this ALL by myself? Why aren’t I receiving help from my sister? Did she forget that she was helping me? Maybe I should say something? Should I? Could I? Okay well, here I go…”
enter Luke 10:40 ESV
And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”
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You did it. You told Jesus what was going on.
The thing is, you weren’t expecting what came next.
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“Martha, Martha,”
—
“ you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.”
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“Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” — Luke 10:41-42
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Look. The reason this image stood out to me the most is because of Martha’s pose:
To be honest, I would have had the same body language. The same attitude and am ‘ready to give a piece of my mind.
How silly..!
It can be a thin line to think that when we do works for Jesus, we’re spending time with Jesus.
We all need our alone time with Jesus. It makes a difference!
That quiet devotional time. Light worship music is playing. A candle has been lit. Or even soft lighting. Your Bible is right next to you just in case the Lord whispers a story. A verse. Even a prayer through a verse.
Wherever and however you decide to have your quiet time, know that you’re making room for Jesus. Room for Him to speak to you.
Now back to Martha and Mary.
Listen. Mary was serving by listening to His teaching. It can not be taken away from her. Her heart for Jesus was found in that scene while her sister had a different view.
Oh, my darling.
Oh, my darling.
How many a time do we do that?
We volunteer to help but are anxious about it.
Or are asked to volunteer and are anxious about that.
We don’t talk about it and keep it buried deep down. Even if we do talk about it, we might complain about it…
“I’m doing it for the Lord” — you say to yourself.
“I’m doing good works.” — you might even add.
But your heart is not in it.
It is focused on other things.
We get caught up in our troubles and forget to sit at the feet of Jesus.
Trouble.
Trouble.
Trouble.
Why do you mess with one’s mind, heart, and emotion and wrap us around your finger?
We give in to doing it alone without help until it’s too much.
We finally break down and come to the feet of Jesus.
Battered. Feeling defeated. Discouraged even.
How good does it feel when all that is bothering you gets laid out at the feet of Jesus?
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
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Oh Jesus, will you Mary me?
Is this your prayer to be more like Mary?
I hope so.
I pray it for me too because the day can get away from me so easily and quickly.
Keep walking with Him. Stay on the narrow path.
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!